New GoPro.. Hero Session is withdrawn from sales - do i wait?

zachdunning

Hi all, I have had a few bumps with cars recently whilst riding so have decided to go for a decent gopro to use commuting and also for some cool race clips

Was looking at the GoPro Hero (4) Session as it was £150 which was decent however after buying one the next day I discover that they are withdrawing it from sale and will have a new entry level camera to be released in 2018.. Do I return the unopened one and get a full refund and wait for the new one that'll be out probably after christmas, or stick with this one and have it for christmas?
Also if there are any recommendations for an alternative camera I'd be grateful to have any input!
Cheers all

thegreatdivide

The Hero 4 Session was superseded by the Hero 5 Session which is available everywhere on the planet.

zachdunning

thegreatdivide wrote:

The Hero 4 Session was superseded by the Hero 5 Session which is available everywhere on the planet.

Yeah but also £100 more expensive for few upgrades from the H4 session.. I reckon I will return it and wait for the new one to come out as they will be more compatible with latest software etc i guess.

bendertherobot

It's a bit confusing but I thought the Hero 4 basically got re-done as the Hero Session. So, in essence, the chopped a few bits and made it entry level.

The Hero 5 isn't the 4 rebranded, it's 4k for a start. And has image stabilization.

So, if you want one today, get the Hero Session. It's gone up annoyingly since a bout a month ago though, when it was easily £150. The Session 5 at £250 from Halfords less BC discount, is a much better proposition. That said the Hero Session also appears in short supply and is also being discontinued.

redvision

The hero 5 session is massively different to the hero session, which was a real disappointment and was discontinued months ago (start of the year I think).

Not only can the 5 session film in higher res (4k) it also is waterproof and has voice control. But significantly, the biggest difference is the stability control. Just watch the YouTube comparison videos and you will see the difference.

The hero 5 session isn't as good as the hero 5 but it's much cheaper and much more discrete when on the bike (handlebars). I have both and much rather the hero 5 session for bike footage.

Gopro teased a while ago about a new budget action camera. IIRC DCR speculated that it would sit below the hero 5 session but will offer similar features, perhaps in a bigger package. Think he said it's due to be officially announced in Jan.

bendertherobot

The image stabilization is superb on the 5. It lifts it head and shoulders above what I've used before. And the mics actually work.

Bear in mind that this footage suffers from being uploaded, on my HDD it's absolutely flawless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAlDO0zDUyY&t=458s

zachdunning

Hmm, I will return the 4 session and save that little more for the 5 if the new one that comes out isn’t worth it! Thanks for the input guys I was struggling to come out with a final decision!

redvee

I picked up a Hero 5 Session from a second hand electronics shop when I returned an item after 24 hours and had a voucher opposed to a refund and in total it cost me £150 with a warranty though I haven't used it in anger yet but the footage I have sampled is very good. Think it's time to give it a ride to work tomorrow and must remember to start it as my Garmin starts when I start the ride on my 820.
The app connection between my phone and GO Pro is much better than the Garmin app, I can connect to Go Pro at home with no issues caused by home wi-fi whereas the Garmin app can't find the camera that is right next to it.

Semantik

Anyone using the Hero 5 session care to comment on battery life?

I am getting 2 hrs.10mins max from the now discontinued Hero Session (bought new August this year)

the_rover

redvee wrote:

I picked up a Hero 5 Session from a second hand electronics shop when I returned an item after 24 hours and had a voucher opposed to a refund and in total it cost me £150 with a warranty though I haven't used it in anger yet but the footage I have sampled is very good. Think it's time to give it a ride to work tomorrow and must remember to start it as my Garmin starts when I start the ride on my 820.
The app connection between my phone and GO Pro is much better than the Garmin app, I can connect to Go Pro at home with no issues caused by home wi-fi whereas the Garmin app can't find the camera that is right next to it.

I recently bought a hero 5 but haven’t used it yet as I was waiting for some genuine helmets mounts. I ordered some non gen and didn’t like them. Got the 2 gen ones delivered from Bristol Caneras for £22.

Anyhow, I’d be interested to hear and more importantly see how you get on with it if you don’t mind.

Cheers Stuart.

redvee

The Rover wrote:

I recently bought a hero 5 but haven’t used it yet as I was waiting for some genuine helmets mounts. I ordered some non gen and didn’t like them. Got the 2 gen ones delivered from Bristol Caneras for £22.

Anyhow, I’d be interested to hear and more importantly see how you get on with it if you don’t mind.

Cheers Stuart.

Only used it on a bar mount so far but happy with it, pretty sure I've got a vented helmet mount among all the other mounts I've acquired over time. Battery life is my biggest gripe but I do have a powerbank and charge cables in work should I be working where I can charge things up.

Semantik wrote:

Anyone using the Hero 5 session care to comment on battery life?

Poor TBH. First time I used it I got 1:25:25 recording time from a full charged battery but that was with wifi and voice control on. Did intend to take powerbank and USB C cable to top up the battery in work but forgot it so left work with a 40% battery which I knew it wouldn't do the full journey home. For the last mile the display was showing empty battery and I was expecting a complete shutdown anytime and it did happen 30 seconds from home.

bendertherobot

Yes. It's about 90 minutes as stated, I don't use voice control on mine. Charging it again (it's USB C) doesn't take long. So it's fine for my commute (1 hr tops) both ways.

redvision

I have found on every gopro I have owned that all have relatively similar battery time of two hours if you turn off all the extras (WiFi, voice control etc).
If you want to use the extra features then run time is reduced by up to about 40%.

fenix

zachdunning wrote:

Hi all, I have had a few bumps with cars recently whilst riding

Whats with all the bumps ? A go pro won't prevent any of them and prevention is much better than a ranting video later. Are you sure it's all the car's fault ?

zachdunning

Fenix wrote:

zachdunning wrote:

Hi all, I have had a few bumps with cars recently whilst riding

Whats with all the bumps ? A go pro won't prevent any of them and prevention is much better than a ranting video later. Are you sure it's all the car's fault ?

Well if you count a car overtaking, then turning into a side street on the left and cutting me off as my fault idk.. I know they don't prevent them but do help with recording plates etc.

redvee

bendertherobot wrote:

Yes. It's about 90 minutes as stated, I don't use voice control on mine. Charging it again (it's USB C) doesn't take long. So it's fine for my commute (1 hr tops) both ways.

A quick googling last night in bed gave me 100 minutes with stabilisation on and 120 minutes without. Turned stabilisation off and will see what the footage is like from Saturday's commute.

bendertherobot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA35rV2uQdw

You'll find it significant!

redvee

bendertherobot wrote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA35rV2uQdw

You'll find it significant!

I've watched a lot of his videos, always helpful.
When I was in London 3 weeks a go I passed a guy on a folding bike with a go-pro on a chesty mount and Karma gimbal, don't think he'll have any stabilisation issues.

zachdunning

Argh the session 5 is now down to £200 as they're getting rid of them. Meanwhile the shimano CM-2000 is £58 in sale too. I don't know if it is worth getting them now or waiting for the new cameras to come out!

bendertherobot

The only reason it may NOT be worth getting the Session 5 now is if the new model has the same spec for less money.

It's possible. But otherwise, get the Session 5. It's a brilliant camera and a lot better than the Shimano,

zachdunning

bendertherobot wrote:

The only reason it may NOT be worth getting the Session 5 now is if the new model has the same spec for less money.

It's possible. But otherwise, get the Session 5. It's a brilliant camera and a lot better than the Shimano,

I may just get it now then as I would be happy with it as it is right now tbf, thanks

bendertherobot

zachdunning wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

The only reason it may NOT be worth getting the Session 5 now is if the new model has the same spec for less money.

It's possible. But otherwise, get the Session 5. It's a brilliant camera and a lot better than the Shimano,

I may just get it now then as I would be happy with it as it is right now tbf, thanks

It's £199 at Halfords, so if you have BC discount, then get it from there. Also get their Toshiba 64GB SD card too.

zachdunning

bendertherobot wrote:

It's £199 at Halfords, so if you have BC discount, then get it from there. Also get their Toshiba 64GB SD card too.

Perfect, thanks for that!!!

Semantik

bendertherobot wrote:

zachdunning wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

The only reason it may NOT be worth getting the Session 5 now is if the new model has the same spec for less money.

It's possible. But otherwise, get the Session 5. It's a brilliant camera and a lot better than the Shimano,

I may just get it now then as I would be happy with it as it is right now tbf, thanks

It's £199 at Halfords, so if you have BC discount, then get it from there. Also get their Toshiba 64GB SD card too.

On the way there now to pick up my Hero5 Session. SD Card sadly not available for collection at my local store or for home delivery.

zachdunning

Just been to Halfords, got one for £179! Really happy, thanks for the tip!

redvision

zachdunning wrote:

Just been to Halfords, got one for £179! Really happy, thanks for the tip!

Absolute bargain at that price.

bendertherobot

I thought mine was a bargain 2 months ago when I nabbed it for £225. It's a steal. Such a brilliant camera.

Going skiing soon so looking at best attachments. Chest mount looks surprisingly good. Might get the remote......

zachdunning

bendertherobot wrote:

I thought mine was a bargain 2 months ago when I nabbed it for £225. It's a steal. Such a brilliant camera.

Going skiing soon so looking at best attachments. Chest mount looks surprisingly good. Might get the remote......

Wouldn't have thought of the halfords deal without you, thanks a bunch mate. Enjoy skiing and dont faceplant too much

redvee

bendertherobot wrote:

Going skiing soon so looking at best attachments. Chest mount looks surprisingly good. Might get the remote......

I use the free remote that Hero 5 Sessions come with, Voice Control